Order of operations: watch it solved step by step

Watch BODMAS pick which operation to do next, one step at a time. Level: KS3 / GCSE. Type any problem of this kind and the Lab works it out and animates every move, with a plain-words explanation of why.

Worked example: (2 + 3) × 4

  1. The sum. We will work this out one operation at a time, always in the right order. The order is BODMAS: Brackets, Orders (powers, roots), Division and Multiplication, then Addition and Subtraction.
  2. Brackets: Addition. Brackets come first, so we work inside the bracket. Addition and Subtraction come last, working from left to right. Here that is 2 + 3 = 5.
  3. Brackets finished. The bracket now holds just one number, so the brackets have done their job and we can take them away.
  4. Multiplication. Division and Multiplication come next, working from left to right. Here that is 5 × 4 = 20.
  5. The answer. Nothing is left to work out. The answer is 20.

Answer: 20

Practise order of operations with problems the Lab marks for you.

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